Bugs In The Bathroom: Identify & Eliminate The Real Pests
You flip on the bathroom light at 2 a.m., and something tiny scatters across the sink. Suddenly, your bathroom feels like a haunted room.
The good news is that most of these bugs in the bathroom are completely harmless moisture lovers, but the bad news is that they may be telling you something is wet that should not be.
This article reveals the 8 most common bathroom invaders, exactly how to identify them, and how to stop them permanently.
What are the Bugs in the Bathroom?
| Bug | Size | Appearance | Where You See Them | Real Problem? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drain Fly (Moth Fly) | 2 to 4 mm | Fuzzy wings, heart-shaped when folded |
|
No bite, just gross |
| Silverfish | 0.5 to 0.75 inch | Silver, teardrop, 3 tail prongs |
|
Eats paper and glue |
| Psocids (Booklice) | Less than 1 mm | Tiny white or gray specks |
|
Mold feeders |
| House Centipede | 1 to 2 inches | 15 pairs of legs, striped |
|
Beneficial predator |
| Cockroach (Baby German) | 0.25 to 0.5 inch | Two dark stripes on head |
|
Major red flag |
| Springtails | Less than 2 mm | Jump when disturbed |
|
Harmless moisture lovers |
| Earwigs | 0.5 to 1 inch | Pincers on rear |
|
Occasional nuisance |
| Pillbugs or Sowbugs | 0.5 inch | Roll into a ball (pill) |
|
Just lost |
Read also: How Do I Get Rid Of Tiny Red Bugs In My Bathroom? Solutions for a Pest-Free Home
Drain Flies
These are tiny gray moths that fly in weak, jerky patterns and sit on walls. They are attracted by organic slime (hair, soap, skin) inside your drain.
Control:
- Night 1: Pour 0.5 cups of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain; let it fizz for 15 minutes, and then flush with boiling water
- Night 2: Use a drain brush or old toothbrush to scrub the top 4 inches of your pipe
- Night 3: Cover the drain with tape overnight so that the adults cannot emerge, and the population dies in 7 to 10 days.
Silverfish
They love bathrooms because of the humidity and starch in wallpaper paste, cardboard, and books you store there.
Control: Simply reduce humidity with a dehumidifier and bait them by placing boric acid in wall voids.
Psocids
If you see microscopic white bugs on toilet paper or damp drywall, you do not have a bug problem, but you have a mold problem.
Control: Fix the moisture problem, and they will vanish.
House Centipedes
They eat everything else on this list. One house centipede can clear a bathroom of other bugs in weeks, so it is better to let them be, don’t you think?
Baby German Cockroaches
If you see tiny roaches with two dark racing stripes on their heads, then congratulations, you have a real infestation. Call a pro immediately.
How to Prevent Bugs in the Bathroom
- Run the exhaust fan 20 minutes after every shower
- Clean drains monthly with enzyme cleaner (Bio-Clean, Zep)
- Fix all leaks within 24 hours
- Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity low
- Do not store anything cardboard or paper in the bathroom
- Seal pipe penetrations with silicone
- Run water in rarely used showers
Read also: How To Identify Snake Holes In Your Yard: A Field Guide
Conclusion
Bathroom bugs are not invading; rather, they are just the symptom of excess moisture, as you have read from this informative article.
Fix the water problem, and these bugs in the bathroom will disappear forever. As for the other 1% of disturbing bugs in the bathroom, well, that is when you call in the professionals.
Thank you for reading!
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